The popular community initiative Look for a Book, has arrived in Middlesbrough in a bid to spread a love of reading across the town.

The National Literacy Trust Hub, Middlesbrough Reads, is joining the Middlesbrough School Readiness team to support Teesside Look for a Book, set up by a local teacher, Sam Douglas.

Look for a Book is a treasure hunt to encourage children to explore their local area while finding something new to read. Books are hidden in spots across the community for children to find, read and then re-hide in a different location once they're done.

The initiative has been adopted by communities all over the country, with volunteers starting Facebook groups, hiding a few books, and then letting local youngsters do the work.

Middlesbrough Reads has designed reading packs, especially for Teesside Look for a Book. The packs, which include a brand new book and reading tips for parents, have been distributed to three local primary schools - (Caldicotes Primary Academy, Sacred Heart Catholic Primary School, and Rose Wood Primary School), and to families who attend the town's Children's Centres. Once they have read the story, the lucky recipients will then be encouraged to hide them for another family to enjoy. The packs also include a poem to inspire families to get involved:

"So you've found a pack with a book inside

That someone else has taken time to hide

Take it home, read and enjoy

Hide it again for another girl or boy."

The re-launch of Teesside Look for a Book coincides with World Book Day's ‘Share a Million Stories' campaign, that aims to make story-sharing a habit of a lifetime. The National Literacy Trust has released new research this week revealing that only half of children enjoy reading, and the number of children who read every day is at the lowest that the charity has ever recorded.

Thousands of youngsters are therefore missing out as children who have a book at home are six times more likely to be reading above expected standards for their age. Initiatives like Look for Book give children access to free books, make reading exciting and can ultimately boost their attainment at school.

To join the Teesside Look for a Book visit the Facebook Page.

Alison Kitson, Senior Practitioner (Literacy) Middlesbrough School Readiness Team, said: "Research shows that children who are regularly read to start school ahead of their peers. Hopefully this will encourage families to pick up a book and share stories together."

Allison Potter, Middlesbrough Reads Hub Manager, said: "We are delighted to join forces with Teesside Look for a Book and spread excitement around books! The initiative encourages families to go out and explore their local area, communicate with one another and share stories. In a nut shell, families are keeping active and the likelihood of the little ones doing well at school, and being happy, is a lot higher."

Cllr Mieka Smiles, Middlesbrough Council's Executive Member for Culture and Communities, said: "With more and more time being spent on iPhones, tablets and electronic devices, these book benches are a fantastic reminder about the joy that can be found in reading together with children.

"But as well as that they give an extra reason to take in some of the most fantastic venues Middlesbrough has to offer throughout the summer."

The book bench trail is just one of the many brilliant things to do in Middlesbrough's sizzling Summer of Fun.

From massive summer events such as Mela, the Cleveland Show and Orange Pip Market to award-winning venues such as the Dorman Museum, mima and the Town Hall as well as outdoor favourites Albert Park, Stewart Park and Newham Grange Farm and Middlesbrough town centre's shopping offer there is something for everyone throughout the summer.

They've also picked up free books in celebration of the campaign’s 5th anniversary.

The National Literacy Trust Hub in Middlesbrough, known locally as Middlesbrough Reads, brought a literacy-themed bus to local community centres recently to celebrate five years of working to raise literacy levels in the town.

Supported by Arriva North East, the bus visited Easterside, Grove Hill, Thorntree, North Ormesby and Newport on Wednesday 8 August, where children aged 4 to 11 climbed on board. They enjoyed storytelling from award-winning performance poet Dom Berry and were gifted a brand new book, courtesy of Penguin Random House, and Middlesbrough Reads bookmark to take home.

The Middlesbrough Hub was launched by the National Literacy Trust in 2013, in partnership with Middlesbrough Council and Public Health. Over five years, the Hub has brought together Middlesbrough businesses, schools, health professionals, sport and cultural partners to deliver a range of bespoke programmes and initiatives which have significantly improved literacy levels in the town. Highlights include:

Working with more than 40,000 children and families, helping them to fall in love with books and share stories together

Handing out 3,000 reading packs each containing a copy of Guess How Much I Love You by Sam McBratney at James Cook University Hospital to help parents bond with their premature babies. This project was highly commended by the Third Sector Charity Business Awards, shortlisted in the Charity Times Awards and has since been rolled out in Stoke-on-Trent and Bradford.

Contributing to a 31% increase in the percentage of Middlesbrough children achieving the expected level in communication and language at age five (from 55.4% in 2013 to 72.7% in 2017); double the rate of national improvement

The Middlesbrough Reads literacy bus tour follows a 5th anniversary celebration event for partners in June, which was attended by Edward Kunonga, Director of Public Health Middlesbrough and Jonathan Douglas, Director of the National Literacy Trust.

Allison Potter, Manager of the National Literacy Trust Hub in Middlesbrough said:

“Over the last five years, we’ve put nearly 60,000 books in the hands of the Middlesbrough children who need them the most and seen a real improvement in the number of pupils who enjoy reading.

“We were delighted to continue the Hub’s 5th anniversary celebrations with this exciting bus tour with local children and families, giving out more brand new books to inspire reading over the school holidays.”

Nick Knox, Managing Director of Arriva North East, said:

“We supported the launch of the National Literacy Trust Hub in Middlesbrough so are thrilled to be involved in this celebration five years later. Arriva North East is committed to working with local communities and helping to tackle important local challenges like improving the literacy skills of our young residents.”

National Literacy Trust Hubs work with local partners at a community level to tackle low literacy levels and create long-lasting change. The National Literacy Trust Hub in Middlesbrough has inspired a further seven National Literacy Trust Hubs across the country in Bradford, Peterborough, Stoke-on-Trent, Swindon, Nottingham, the North Yorkshire Coast and Hastings. Initiatives developed as part of the Middlesbrough Hub have been rolled out in other areas nationally and internationally with great success.

A LAUNCH event for 2017’s Summer Reading Challenge is to take place at Middlesbrough’s Central Library.

The event will take place on Saturday, July 15, 12pm-4pm at the Central Library and is designed to encourage primary age children to read during the summer holidays.

There will be a visit from illustrator Liz Million from 12pm-12.45pm, ukelele playing poet Paul Cookson will perform from 1pm-1.45pm and local author Peter Brunton will introduce his books from 2pm.

There will also be a creative writing workshop, hosted by 6e publishing from 2pm-4pm.

Every child who reads six books will be entered into a prize draw.

Ruth Cull, Library Development Officer for Middlesbrough Council, said: “The challenge is a great way for children to maintain and improve their reading skills over the summer. We’d love to see more children than event take part and invite all children aged 4 to 11 to join the fun.”

Allison Potter, manager of the National Literacy Hub in Middlesbrough, said: “The Summer Reading Challenge is a great opportunity for families to spend time together at their local library, reading some fantastic children’s books, hopefully off the Middlesbrough 100 Best Books list.”

A SUMMER reading challenge special event will take place at Middlesbrough Central Library on Saturday, July 15.

Animal Agents: Summer Reading Challenge will run from noon-4pm and will be a fun packed day with illustrators, authors, crafts, book giveaways and the chance to vote for Middlesbrough’s Best Children’s Book.

The order of the day is:

Noon-12.45pm – Illustration workshop with Liz Million – learn how to draw the Animal Agent characters.

1pm-1.45pm – Poetry and ukulele craziness with Paul Cookson.

2pm-2.45pm – Fun for younger children with author Peter Brunton and his Sally the Seal stories.

The event coincides with Middlesbrough Mela taking place in Centre Square so there will also be lots of entertainment and fabulous food.

Children can join the Summer Reading Challenge, aimed at those aged four to 11, at any Middlesbrough library from Saturday, July 15 – to complete the challenge they need to read six library books during the summer holidays.

They will receive incentives along the way and everyone who completes the challenge will receive a certificate and medal.